THOMAS VON WACHENFELDT – Estradörerna, LP

With “Estradörerna”, Thomas von Wachenfeldt continues his lifelong mission to revitalise Sweden’s folk heritage. The album features music by three of Sweden’s most renowned and accomplished folk musicians – Jon-Erik Öst, Wiktor Öst, and Jon-Erik Hall – arranged for string trio. By reimagining these traditional melodies through the lens of chamber instrumentation, Wachenfeldt reveals an expressive depth that resonates across generations.

Rooted in tradition yet reinterpreted with precision, “Estradörerna” transforms old melodies into something both timeless and immediate. Wachenfeldt distils the essence of Sweden’s folk music – its longing, metaphysical qualities, and quiet introspection – into finely crafted compositions where every note carries the weight of centuries. Through the fusion of folk sensibility and chamber refinement, he captures not only the rhythms, joys, and sorrow of polskas, waltzes, and marches, but the very spirit of the time and space that shaped them.

A musician, researcher, and teacher, Wachenfeldt has dedicated his life to preserving and expanding Sweden’s musical traditions. From arranging Entombed’s “Clandestine” for symphony orchestra to his work in both traditional folk and extreme metal, his artistry defies categorisation. “Estradörerna” stands as a testament to his deep reverence for Sweden’s folk legacy – honouring the melodies of past masters with scholarly precision and emotive depth.

Tracklist:

1 – Suite no 1 (Jon-Erik Hall) for string trio in G Minor – I. Visa (‘Air’)
2 – Suite no 1 (Jon-Erik Hall) for string trio in G Minor – II. Laforsens Brus (‘The Roar of Laforsen’, Polska)
3 – Suite no 1 (Jon-Erik Hall) for string trio in G Minor – III. Sorgmarsch (‘Sorrow March’)
4 – Suite no 1 (Jon-Erik Hall) for string trio in G Minor – IV. I Skymningen (‘The Twilight’, Waltz)
5 – Suite no 1 (Jon-Erik Hall) for string trio in G Minor – V. Dellens vågor no II (‘The Waves of Dellen no. II’, Polska)
6 – Suite no 2 (Wiktor Öst) for string trio in C Minor – I. Den orolige vandraren (‘The Restless Wanderer’, March)
7 – Suite no 2 (Wiktor Öst) for string trio in C Minor – II. Strömgubben (‘The Old Man of the Rapids’, Polska)
8 – Suite no 2 (Wiktor Öst) for string trio in C Minor – III. En spelmans jordafärd (‘A Fiddler’s Funeral’, Sorrow March)
9 – Suite no 2 (Wiktor Öst) for string trio in C Minor – IV. Böljors sång (‘Song of the Waves’, Waltz)
10 – Suite no 2 (Wiktor Öst) for string trio in C Minor – V. Hälsingepojkarnas marsch (‘The March of the Hälsingland Boys’)
11 – Suite no 3 (Jon-Erik Öst) for string trio in G Minor – I. Hemlängtan (‘Longing for Home’, Sorrow Tune)
12 – Suite no 3 (Jon-Erik Öst) for string trio in G Minor – II. Amungen (‘The Amungen Lake’, Polska)
13 – Suite no 3 (Jon-Erik Öst) for string trio in G Minor – III. Gamla tiden (‘The Old Times’, March)
14 – Suite no 3 (Jon-Erik Öst) for string trio in G Minor – IV. Till mors minne (‘In Memory of Mother’, Waltz)
15 – Suite no 3 (Jon-Erik Öst) for string trio in G Minor – V. Fru Granhammars polska (‘Mrs. Granhammar’s Polska’)